Home Health Test Caution 4/22/12

Published On: Apr 29 2012 02:20:44 PM CDT

Glucose kits to manage diabetes at home are useful. So are blood pressure monitors,and doctors encourage people with hypertension or borderline hypertension to usethem.But Consumer Reports On Health newsletter says that other tests could lead youastray, including a kit that lets women know that menopause is under way. Women intheir late 40s and 50s might interpret those results to mean they no longer need birthcontrol, and that could result in an unwanted pregnancy.

Other home tests have questionable value, including those that screen for highcholesterol levels. The tests measure total cholesterol, but you still need a doctor tointerpret the results for you and to tell you what to do about it.

And you might need to consult your physician with a test that can detect a urinary-tractinfection. If you get a positive result, you’ll need a prescription. You really have to knowin advance whether your doctor will prescribe over the phone. Many are not willing to dothat.

Consumer Reports On Health says another home test you can skip is one that looks forearly signs of heart disease. It detects a marker called c-reactive protein. The problemis that the tests can be difficult to read and haven’t been proven to be effective.

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